KEY POINTS:
On the eve of our A-League debut this afternoon, it's quite incredible to think how far the Wellington Phoenix have come in such a short time.
From not even knowing if a team would exist not that long ago, we now look and feel like a football club
and it's a far more professional model than the one at my last club, the Newcastle Jets.
Much of the credit must go to club owner Terry Serepisos, who has spared no expense in establishing the club on and off the field.
People wanted to see that it would be different from the past and have nothing to do with the Knights and it certainly is different.
We hope the biggest difference will be results because that is what we will be judged on.
But from what I can tell, we are building momentum I didn't think was possible at this stage of our existence.
Our pre-season performances may have raised expectations and that is good but the biggest thing we can achieve this season is gaining credibility.
I was in Sydney last week for the launch of the A-League and you still get the sense some people are against a New Zealand team, that they think we don't belong there.
We are battling the legacy of what happened with the Kingz and Knights and it might take some time to convince the doubters.
As a Wellingtonian, I'm desperate to help the Phoenix become a success. I want it to work so much more because it's my home town.
That was a big part of why I was so desperate to get out of my two-year deal with Newcastle to join Ricki Herbert at the Phoenix.
I'm not sure I would have fought so hard had it been in Auckland.
Wellington is a place that if something is going on, the city tends to get out and support it. There are a lot of benefits to a new beginning, a new city and a fresh start.
One of the biggest criticisms I had of the Knights was that it lacked a New Zealand identity but we have captured it this time with a core group of Kiwi players, a number of quality Australians and some Brazilian flair. We have a very motivated group of players.
They have come from different places and some have experienced ups and downs in their careers but everyone in the group is here with a point to prove.
From day one, I have sensed everyone's desire to get this right.
I can't think of a better way to start the season than to take on Melbourne in Wellington today.
They are the biggest club in the league, with the biggest fan base and they won last year's title in a canter. Playing them means we will know straight away where we are at.
Unfortunately, I won't play today, having picked up the flu after just recovering from a groin injury. I would dearly love to have been out there because it's going to be such a huge day but it's only the beginning of the journey.
